Background
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, with 192 member National Societies. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, our work is guided by seven fundamental principles; humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.
Organizational Context
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.
The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). In this connection, the work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.
The IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.
The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.
Under the management of the Secretary General and the guidance of the Audit and Risk Commission, and led by a director, the Office of Internal Audit and Investigations (OIAI) provides independent high-quality internal audit, investigations, programme assurance and consulting services that are designed to add value as well as provide management with objective assurance on the effectiveness of the Federation Secretariat’s risk management framework and internal control environment. The OIAI acts as an agent for change by making recommendations for continuous improvement, thereby assisting management with the accomplishment of their assigned responsibilities and the implementation of the Federation’s approved strategy.
This position is based in the IFRC Headquarters in Geneva.
Job Purpose
As a senior member of the Federation’s leadership:
• Act as the Federation’s lead on audit and investigations issues, managing the IFRC’s work to deliver on the Federation integrity framework and to provide leadership to audit and investigations issues related to national societies.
• Provide assurance to the Audit and Risk Commission, the Secretary General, Under Secretaries General and Regional Directors over the adequacy and effectiveness of the Secretariat’s frameworks for governance, risk management and internal control.
• Support the Secretary General in fulfilling his statutory responsibilities for ensuring proper administration of the Federation Secretariat’s financial affairs in accordance with the Federation’s Financial Regulations through the provision of advice, assurance and guidance.
• Support the Audit and Risk Commission in fulfilling its governance responsibilities as set out in Article 30 of the IFRC Constitution and in the Commission’s working Procedures, through the provision of governance support and the Commission’s formal secretariat service.
• Working in conjunction with HR, the Ombudsperson and management colleagues, carry out the Secretariat’s independent investigations function through the conduct and outsourcing of investigations, on a triage and prioritised basis, that involve IFRC staff, consultants, non-staff personnel and institutional contractors covering all forms of misconduct including, but not limited to the following: fraud; corruption; workplace harassment; sexual harassment; abuse of authority; or violation of prescribed regulations, rules, relevant administrative issuances and standards of conduct..
• Lead the Federation’s global response to integrity issues, through standard setting, intellectual leadership, and delivery of federation-level investigations with CMC authorisation.
• Improve the Federation’s risk management, control and governance processes by providing management with advice and guidance as required.
• Provide effective co-operation with the external auditors and other relevant review bodies.
• Set the tone for the OIAI’s internal and external interactions by exemplifying values of high ethical standards, integrity, and fairness.
• Assess the adequacy of the audit and investigation resources that are required to meet the OIAI risk based work plans.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Humanitarian Diplomacy and Federation-wide Role
- Lead audit and investigation work streams across the Federation, providing intellectual and policy leadership for audit and investigations issues across the Federation.
- Represent the Secretariat to key donors and stakeholders to build their confidence and trust in the Secretariat and its capacity to work effectively through national societies and deliver on its remit with integrity, transparency, accountability, and efficiency.
- Support the General Assembly and Governing Board in their oversight responsibilities, through support on risk, assurance, and integrity issues.
Internal/External Audits
- Prepare the annual audit plan based on a comprehensive risk assessment of all the Secretariat’s auditable activities and processes for the approval of the Secretary General and endorsement of the Audit and Risk Commission.
- Allocate audit resources to planned audit assignments, and supervise the work of the audit team, ensuring that assignments are conducted in accordance with the Institute of Internal Auditors’ Code of Ethics and with International Internal Auditing Standards.
- Coordinate all donors’ external audit requirements, ensuring that their requests are met on time and to budget.
- Facilitate and oversee the external auditors’ engagement, scope of work and subsequent delivery of the financial statements audit of the Secretariat, supporting finance colleagues where required.
- Coordinate management response to the external auditors’ management letter.
- As and when requested by the Secretary General, perform special audit assignments.
- As a member of leadership team, discuss the audit plans and results, and make recommendations to resolve audit findings requiring corrective action.
- Prepare and present periodic reports to Senior Managers and the Audit and Risk Commission summarising OIAI activities and critical audit or investigations findings and recommendations.
- Communicate with the Chair of the Audit and Risk Commission on a regular basis with updates on areas of risks and internal audit and investigations assignment progress.
- As a member of leadership team, update the Secretary General and other senior managers on progress made by management concerning the implementation of critical audit and investigations recommendations.
- Liaise with donors, stakeholders and partner national societies over audit and investigations issues, providing briefings when / as required.
- Develop and update internal audit methodologies, techniques, systems and procedures in order to accomplish the long- and short-term goals and objectives of OIAI.
- Provide support to National Societies on audit and risk matters, providing leadership across the Federation.
- Supervise, review, and participate in the training of OIAI staff.
- Prepare and manage the budget of OIAI.
Investigations
- Conduct high-quality investigations of misappropriation of funds, workplace harassment; sexual harassment; abuse of authority; or failure to observe prescribed regulations, rules, relevant administrative issuances and standards of conduct involving IFRC funds, personal, including individuals and parties external to the IFRC but connected to its programmes such as National Societies and suppliers.
- Conduct investigations in accordance with generally recognised international investigation standards ensuring that the integrity of all evidence obtained is maintained through the course of investigations, and with due respect and consideration to cultural and language differences.
- Manage issues that are time-sensitive and highly confidential, and pose significant financial, legal and reputational risk to the IFRC.
- Maintain a professional approach when conducting challenging or difficult conversations at all levels of the IFRC.
- Provide oversight and guidance to investigations managed or undertaken by external resources such as consultants and forensic IT specialists.
- Use own initiative, sound judgement and experience to reach appropriate decisions in accordance with the aims and objectives of the IFRC’s policies.
- Prepare fit for purpose briefings and presentations to Senior Management and Audit and Risk Commission on findings including root causes and control and/or process gaps.
- Prepare thorough and well written investigation reports that are of a consistently high quality with soundly based findings and appropriate recommendations, and present them to the Secretary General, Senior Management Team and the Audit and Risk Commission and relevant Managers, as appropriate.
- Conduct fraud and corruption prevention and awareness training including formal presentations, workshops and written materials.
- Contribute to fraud and corruption prevention related policies, documents, guidance, tools, procedures and directives.
- Lead on the development of the tools to support the Federation integrity framework.
- For each investigation, maintain and update records, protocols and fraud incident database.
- Initiate and maintain liaison with the Office of the General Counsel and the Human Resources Management Department, law enforcement agencies and donors, including a quarterly donor call.
Risk Management
- Support Management to develop the risk management process, and work with management to facilitate the identification and assessment of risks.
- Promote a culture of risk awareness and appropriate mitigation amongst management and staff
- Support management to evaluate risks in new projects (including IT projects), initiatives, processes, developments and revised procedures.
Governance Support
- Act as Secretary to the Audit and Risk Commission.
- Support the Chair of the Audit and Risk Commission with the preparation of the Commission report to the Governing Board.
- Support the Audit and Risk Commission with the selection of the external auditors.
- Support the Chairs of the Audit and Risk Commission and the Compliance and Mediation Committee with regards to investigating National Societies integrity allegations.
- Provide logistical support to the Audit and Risk Commission and its chair to ensure its effective operation.
- Organise and support Audit and Risk Commission members’ orientation.
- Support the Governing Board, General Assembly, Council of Delegates, and International Conference in matters of risk management, assurance, audit, investigations and governance as required.
Education
Required
- Masters’-level university degree
- Internal Audit qualification (CIA) or equivalent
Preferred
- Chartership-level qualification in internal audit or accounting (CPA, FCA, CA, FCCA)
- Further specialist audit qualification including, but not limited to: IT assurance (CISA, ITAC), risk assurance (CRMA), IA leadership (QIAL), investigations (CFE).
Experience
Required
- An effective diplomat capable of establishing good working relationships with donors, stakeholders, and national societies, through impeccable communication, presentation and negotiation skills.
- Capacity to work collaboratively with the General Assembly, Governing Board as well as relevant committees and advisory bodies in the development and articulation of strategic priorities.
- Ability to lead and manage effective audit and investigations teams.
- Ability to formulate a strategy that meets organizational and oversight requirements in a global, complex and culturally diverse setting.
- Proven ability to deliver results that focus on key organizational goals in the context of multiple competing risks and demands.
- Thorough understanding of the principles and application of good corporate governance, business and operational risk management, and effective internal controls.
- Thorough working knowledge of modern risk-based audit.
- IT literate with skills in systems and data analysis using Computer Assisted Audit Techniques (CAAT).
- Good knowledge of information systems auditing and security.
- Proven ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, with different audiences and at various levels.
- Ability to prepare and present concise oral and written reports by gathering, analyzing and evaluating facts.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships throughout the Organization.
Preferred
- Good knowledge of modern human resource management principles and practice.
- Knowledge of the principles, procedures, and techniques of financial and management accounting.
Knowledge, skills and languages
Required
- Fluent spoken and written English
Preferred
- Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)
Competencies and values
Core Competencies:
- Communication;
- Collaboration and Teamwork;
- Judgement and Decision Making;
- National Society and Customer Relations;
- Creativity and Innovation; Building Trust.
Managerial Competencies:
- Managing Staff Performance;
- Managing Staff Development.
Functional Competencies:
- Strategic Orientation;
- Building Alliances;
- Leadership;
- Empowering Others.
How to apply:
Please apply via IFRC website.